The Debate Over Bowden's Exit Continues To Rage

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

November 2, 1998|By GEORGE DIAZ The Orlando Sentinel and Alan Schmadtke and Chris Harry of The Orlando Sentinel staff contributed to this report.

AUBURN, Ala. _ — Terry Bowden vs. Auburn University is a mix of controversy and contradiction, a relationship that crumbled when a winning team began racking up losses.

Insisting there was ``no way I could save my job at the end of the year,'' Bowden resigned as coach Oct. 23, only hours before his team was to play Louisiana Tech. The aftermath continues to reverberate in Alabama.

Bowden leaves a university he once described as ``the place I want to end my career'' with a $620,000 severance package. But the money is tainted with allegations that Bowden simply quit.

Bowden said he had no choice but to resign.

The possible cast of characters involved:

* Bobby Lowder, a millionaire businessman and influential university trustee who many suspect was the decision-maker. Lowder vehemently has denied those allegations.

* Bowden, a brash 42-year-old with a Steve Spurrieresque ego who never fit in with the folksy, family ambiance cultivated at Auburn. Feeling pressure from university insiders, Bowden resigned six games into the season.

* Athletic Director David Housel, who denies anyone at Auburn was trying to push Bowden out. ``There's not one person here at Auburn who wanted Coach Bowden to not finish out the season,'' Housel said.

* John Denson, an attorney on the 12-member board of trustees who is calling for full disclosure on the circumstances leading to Bowden's resignation. ``The question that needs to be addressed is: Who told him what?,'' Denson said. ``It's a real mystery as to how Bowden got that idea [to resign).''

The unanswered questions are an albatross to an Auburn team that plays host to the University of Central Florida on Saturday.

``A lot of people would like closure on this,'' said Bill Cameron, a university employee in the graduate outreach program who also is the host of a radio sports talk show in the area.

``We've heard all kind of things . . .''

Weird, wild stuff.

The leading rumor was Bowden was forced to resign for having an affair with his former secretary, who happens to be Lowder's daughter (Catherine). Those allegations have been emphatically dismissed by Bowden and his wife, Shyrl.

``This is a sick rumor,'' Bowden said. ``Catherine remains one of my closest friends. She's one of Shyrl's closest friends. To drag her through the rumor mill is unconscionable.''

Bowden was hired as a fill-in guy to get the team through a probationary period of NCAA sanctions but altered the plan with an unanticipated run of success.

Bowden was undermined by a dissatisfied faction of trustees, school officials and fans who never warmed to him.

In reality, numerous sources say there was only one man in Auburn's establishment Bowden needed to fear: Lowder.

Auburn insiders portray Lowder as the university's most influential presence. He contributes millions of dollars to the university. His name is etched on the university's business building. His political clout has allowed him to remain on the board of trustees, indefinitely extending a term that expired in 1995.

Despite a lack of Auburn roots, Bowden endeared himself to Auburn's fans by winning 20 consecutive games, an NCAA record for the start of a Division I-A career. He led the Tigers to a 10-3 record and the Southeastern Conference Championship Game last year, losing 30-29 to Tennessee. He had a winning record against Alabama and is the only SEC coach to defeat Florida in Gainesville this decade. His father, Florida State coach Bobby Bowden, also holds the distinction of beating the Gators in ``the Swamp'' this decade.

Auburn officials rewarded the younger Bowden last December with a seven-year contract that had a base salary of $155,000 a year and benefits boosting the total package to more than $800,000.

Despite his success, Bowden's charismatic flair had begun to wane. A number of players were involved in serious off-field transgressions, including drug charges, that embarrassed the university.

A 1-5 record that marked Auburn's worse start since 1952 gave the disgruntled faction enough leverage to expedite Bowden's exit.

``As they say, from the halo to the noose is 6 inches,'' said Tom my Bowden, an assistant under his younger brother at Auburn for four years and now coach at Tulane.

Burdened by uncertainty and asking for clarification, Bowden met with Housel. He found no comfort in what he perceived as a non-committal response.

``Terry, you can fight this. You can fight this,'' Bowden said Housel told him. ``Do the best you can.''

Bowden didn't believe that was enough. He wanted stronger assurances, based on his long-term contract. After first telling his players in an emotional address that he would resign, Bowden made it official, leaving with a 47-17-1 record.

``This public debate would be so cruel that the young men would have no chance to focus on the game,'' Bowden said after resigning. Assistant Bill Oliver will coach the team the rest of the year.

Prominent faces continue the crossfire, most of it directed at Lowder.

``Robert Lowder fired Terry Bowden utilizing the threat of his board majority,'' said David Hagan, an Auburn physician who is chairman of the advisory committee to the College of Science and Mathematics.

Trustee Denson wants some answers before the Auburn administration pays Bowden a $620,000 severance package. Bowden's contract stipulates that if the university fires him, it must pay him his annual salary for each of the years remaining on his contract, which would come to $930,000. The lesser amount was negotiated by the university through Bowden's attorney.

``I did not ask Coach Bowden to resign, I did not tell him to resign, and I did not advise him to resign,'' Lowder has said repeatedly.

Alan Schmadtke and Chris Harry of The Orlando Sentinel staff contributed to this report.